Phil Foden showcased his talent with a hat-trick, leading Manchester City to a resounding 4-1 victory over Aston Villa on Wednesday, despite the absence of Erling Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne.
This victory was significant for the champions, who had faced doubts about their ability to win against top-tier opponents. The win brought them within one point of league leaders Arsenal in the Premier League standings.
City’s manager, Pep Guardiola, opted to leave Haaland and De Bruyne on the bench for the entire match, emphasizing the need to manage the team’s energy amidst a demanding schedule.
Foden’s stellar performance, with three goals, took his season tally to 21 goals, reinforcing Guardiola’s praise of him as the best player in the league this season.
Jeremy Doku, another standout performer for City, returned to the starting lineup and contributed significantly to the team’s success.
City took the lead through Rodri, with Doku providing the assist. Villa responded with a goal from Jhon Duran, but Foden’s first-half strike restored City’s advantage.
Despite Villa’s efforts to level the score, City’s goalkeeper Stefan Ortega made crucial saves, allowing Foden to secure the victory with two more goals in the second half.
With this win, City’s path to a potential fourth consecutive Premier League title looks promising, especially with just one more match against a top-six opponent remaining in their schedule.
For Villa, the defeat leaves them in a precarious position in the race for a top-four finish, as they aim to secure Champions League qualification.
